Illinois Rental Fee Rules
Illinois rules on rental fees for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: Reusable screening reports: if an applicant provides a qualifying reusable tenant screening report (prepared within the last 30 days by a consumer reporting agency, free for the landlord to access, covering the landlord's criteria), the landlord may not charge an application screening… 765 ILCS 705/30 (P.A. 103-840, eff. 1-1-25); 765 ILCS 705/35(c)(1)-(2) (P.A. 104-479, eff. 1-1-27)
The rules in Illinois
| Application / screening fees | Reusable screening reports: if an applicant provides a qualifying reusable tenant screening report (prepared within the last 30 days by a consumer reporting agency, free for the landlord to access, covering the landlord's criteria), the landlord may not charge an application screening fee or a fee to access the report (since Jan. 1, 2025). For leases entered on or after Jan. 1, 2027, rental application fees (including background checks) are capped at $50; a landlord may pass through a higher actual third-party background-check cost only if it paid the cost up front and bills the applicant with receipts within 14 days (otherwise the fee is waived). Fees added on top of the application fee that duplicate screening costs or are unrelated to screening are banned. Section 35 does not apply to owner-occupied premises with 6 or fewer units. Local rules may be stricter. No statewide refund rule for application fees was found. |
|---|---|
| Other rental fees | For leases entered on or after Jan. 1, 2027: all non-optional fees (one-time or recurring) must appear on the first page of the lease or the tenant does not owe them; listings must disclose non-optional fees, and listings/leases must say whether utilities are included. Banned: lease renewal/modification fees; fees for an eviction notice or for filing before an eviction order (court costs still recoverable); after-hours maintenance fees; fees for contacting the owner/manager or a maintenance hotline; maintenance travel fees; routine maintenance fees; pest fees where the tenant did not contribute; and move-in/move-out walk-through fees. Renaming a fee does not avoid the law; tenants may sue for injunctive and monetary relief plus attorney's fees. Already in effect: a landlord using a payment portal that charges a transaction fee must allow a fee-free way to pay rent (leases after 1-1-25), and a landlord may not require rent to be paid by electronic funds transfer (leases after 1-1-24). Section 35 has a delayed effective date (1-1-27) and exempts owner-occupied premises with 6 or fewer units. Local governments may regulate fees but must be at least as restrictive. |
Related questions
- How much can a landlord charge for a rental application fee?
- What rental fees are illegal (junk fees)?
Illinois vs. neighboring states
| State | Application / screening fees | Other rental fees |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | Reusable screening reports: if an applicant provides a qualifying reusable tenant screening report (prepared within the last 30 days by a consumer reporting agency, free for the landlord to access, covering the landlord's criteria), the landlord may not charge an application screening fee or a fee to access the report (since Jan. 1, 2025). For leases entered on or after Jan. 1, 2027, rental application fees (including background checks) are capped at $50; a landlord may pass through a higher actual third-party background-check cost only if it paid the cost up front and bills the applicant with receipts within 14 days (otherwise the fee is waived). Fees added on top of the application fee that duplicate screening costs or are unrelated to screening are banned. 765 ILCS 705/30 (P.A. 103-840, eff. 1-1-25); 765 ILCS 705/35(c)(1)-(2) (P.A. 104-479, eff. 1-1-27) | For leases entered on or after Jan. 1, 2027: all non-optional fees (one-time or recurring) must appear on the first page of the lease or the tenant does not owe them; listings must disclose non-optional fees, and listings/leases must say whether utilities are included. Banned: lease renewal/modification fees; fees for an eviction notice or for filing before an eviction order (court costs still recoverable); after-hours maintenance fees; fees for contacting the owner/manager or a maintenance hotline; maintenance travel fees; routine maintenance fees; pest fees where the tenant did not contribute; and move-in/move-out walk-through fees. Renaming a fee does not avoid the law; tenants may sue for injunctive and monetary relief plus attorney's fees. Already in effect: a landlord using a payment portal that charges a transaction fee must allow a fee-free way to pay rent (leases after 1-1-25), and a landlord may not require rent to be paid by electronic funds transfer (leases after 1-1-24). 765 ILCS 705/35 (P.A. 104-479, eff. 1-1-27); 765 ILCS 705/3.5 (P.A. 103-809); 765 ILCS 705/4 (P.A. 103-132) |
| Indiana | No state cap or refund rule on application or screening fees was found. Local governments are barred from regulating tenant screening, lease applications, or any fees charged by a landlord unless the General Assembly authorizes it. IC 32-31-1-20(c) | No statute — no state limit or disclosure rule for other rental fees (convenience, move-in, etc.) was found in IC 32-31, and local units are preempted from regulating 'any fees charged by a landlord'. IC 32-31-1-20(c)(7); IC 32-31 (checked) |
| Iowa | No statute — no cap, refund rule, or reusable-screening-report rule was found in Iowa Code ch. 562A. Iowa Code ch. 562A (section list checked) | No general junk-fee or fee-disclosure statute. The only statutory fee limit found is the late-fee cap (rent up to $700/month: $12/day, $60/month max; rent over $700: $20/day, $100/month max). Landlords may not charge fees or penalties for a tenant's summoning police or emergency assistance. Iowa Code §562A.9(4); §562A.27B(1) |
| Kentucky | No statute — no cap, refund rule, or reusable-screening-report rule was found in KRS Chapter 383. KRS Chapter 383 (section list checked) | No statute — no general limit or disclosure rule for other rental fees was found in KRS Chapter 383. A lease may not authorize penalties or termination because a tenant called police or sought emergency help (punitive damages up to 2 months' rent). KRS Chapter 383 (checked); KRS 383.302 |
| Missouri | No statute. Missouri statutes do not cap or regulate rental application or screening fees. Since 28 Aug 2025, cities and counties may not restrict a landlord's use of credit scores, credit reports, eviction or property damage history, or criminal history in screening. RSMo Ch. 441, 534, 535 (no fee section); RSMo 441.043.2(2) | No statute. No Missouri statute limits move-in, convenience, or online-payment fees or requires all-in rent disclosure. In a rent-and-possession case, other lease charges may be joined to the claim but are not treated as rent and cannot by themselves support an order for possession. RSMo Ch. 441, 535 (no fee section); RSMo 535.020 |
| Wisconsin | A landlord may charge only its actual cost, up to $25, for a consumer credit report from a nationwide agency, must tell the applicant about the charge beforehand, and must give the applicant a copy. No charge is allowed if the applicant provides a nationwide-agency credit report less than 30 days old. Non-residents may be charged actual cost up to $25 for a background check (with notice and a copy). Earnest money deposits may be taken only after identifying the unit, and must be refunded by the end of the next business day if the application is rejected or withdrawn or not approved within 3 business days (or up to 21 days if agreed in writing). Wis. Stat. 704.085; Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.05 | No general junk-fee or total-cost-of-rent law. Limits: late rent fees only if specifically provided in the rental agreement, prepaid rent must be applied first, and no fee for not paying a late fee; lease clauses requiring the tenant to pay the landlord's attorney fees are prohibited (except court-awarded); utility charges not included in rent (and the allocation method if not separately metered) must be disclosed before signing or taking a deposit; credit-check fees capped at $25. Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.09(8); ATCP 134.08(4); ATCP 134.04(3); Wis. Stat. 704.085 |
City rules that may add to state law
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Illinois Rental Fee Rules FAQ
Is there a limit on rental application fees in Illinois?
Reusable screening reports: if an applicant provides a qualifying reusable tenant screening report (prepared within the last 30 days by a consumer reporting agency, free for the landlord to access, covering the landlord's criteria), the landlord may not charge an application screening fee or a fee to access the report (since Jan. 1, 2025). For leases entered on or after Jan. 1, 2027, rental application fees (including background checks) are capped at $50; a landlord may pass through a higher actual third-party background-check cost only if it paid the cost up front and bills the applicant with receipts within 14 days (otherwise the fee is waived). Fees added on top of the application fee that duplicate screening costs or are unrelated to screening are banned. (765 ILCS 705/30 (P.A. 103-840, eff. 1-1-25); 765 ILCS 705/35(c)(1)-(2) (P.A. 104-479, eff. 1-1-27))
What rental fees are banned or limited in Illinois?
For leases entered on or after Jan. 1, 2027: all non-optional fees (one-time or recurring) must appear on the first page of the lease or the tenant does not owe them; listings must disclose non-optional fees, and listings/leases must say whether utilities are included. Banned: lease renewal/modification fees; fees for an eviction notice or for filing before an eviction order (court costs still recoverable); after-hours maintenance fees; fees for contacting the owner/manager or a maintenance hotline; maintenance travel fees; routine maintenance fees; pest fees where the tenant did not contribute; and move-in/move-out walk-through fees. Renaming a fee does not avoid the law; tenants may sue for injunctive and monetary relief plus attorney's fees. Already in effect: a landlord using a payment portal that charges a transaction fee must allow a fee-free way to pay rent (leases after 1-1-25), and a landlord may not require rent to be paid by electronic funds transfer (leases after 1-1-24). (765 ILCS 705/35 (P.A. 104-479, eff. 1-1-27); 765 ILCS 705/3.5 (P.A. 103-809); 765 ILCS 705/4 (P.A. 103-132))
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.